Laterally flexible mine conveyer



p 1951 J. F. JOY

LATERALLY FLEXIBLE MINE CONVEYER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 15, 1949 INVENTOR. J55; 11F JZJy.

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Sept. 25, 1951 J. F. JOY 2,569,004

LATERALLY FLEXIBLE MINE CONVEYER Filed June 15, 949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 o o o Gaul:

INVENTOR.

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Sept. 25, 1951 J. F. JOY

LATERALLY FLEXIBLE MINE CONVEYER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 15, 1949 INVENTOR. Jbse lllf'Jb A TTORNE).

atenteci ept. 5, i951 2.569.004 LATERALLY FLEXIBLE MINE CONVEYER Joseph F. Joy, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 15, 1949, Serial No. 99,291

10 Claims. 1

This invention relates to conveyors of the chain-and-flight or chain-and-scraper type, especially to a laterally flexible conveyor of that type designed for use in coal mines for conveying dislodged coal along the face of a coal seam.

In mining with ordinary conveyors having no lateral flexibility, it is customary to carry the conveyor in a straight l ne along the face. As coal is removed, it becomes necessary to place roof props or supports in front of such a conveyor with the result that, after a given fall has been removed from the coal face, a line of roof props' has been set between the conveyor and the new face. With that practice, it becomes necessary to dismantle the face conveyor entirely in order to reposition it in proper relation to the new face.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide a laterally flexible mine conveyor of the chain-and-scraper type which will permit lateral movement of the conveyor toward the new mine face as the loose coal of a given fall is removed along the face, obviating the necessity of placing roof props between the face and the conveyor.

This and other objects are accomplished in a mine conveyor having a rigid drive head, a rigid tail section, laterally flexible side supports extending between the drive head and the tail section and secured thereto, and suitable means for spacing the side supports between their ends, in which the spacing means are preferably deck plates over which the flights move as they convey material such as coal along the mine face. The side supports are preferably angle-and-channelshaped members, and in the preferred embodiment each side support consists of an angle above a channel and spaced therefrom such that the deck plates lie in the space between the angle and the channel.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a conveyor embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the conveyor.

Fig. 3 is a view in section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view in section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view in section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a View in section on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a view in section substantially on line l'l of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the conveyor with parts broken away and in section to show details of the means which join adjacent ends of two side supports.

Fig. 9 is a view in section on line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a portion of the conveyor chain showing one of the joints which makes the chain flexible about a vertical axis.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation view of the chain portion shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a section through the conveyor chain and one of the flights disclosing the feature which allows the flight a limited amount of endwise and rocking movement.

Fig. 13 is a view in section on line l3-l9 of Fi 12.

Fig. 14 is a top plan view illustrating the lateral flexibility of the conveyor; and

Fig. 15 is a side elevation view illustrating the vertical flexibility of the conveyor.

A conveyor made according to this invention consists of pairs of laterally flexible side supports 2 which are comparatively resistant to vertical bending forces, but which are joined together at 4 in such a manner as to permit limited vertical bending of two or more such supports oined together end to end; a flexible deck indicated generally at 6 which extends between the side supports and is secured thereto; a chain conveyor indicated generally at 8, movable along the deck; and a drive or elevating head l0, provided to enable ready emptying of the coal into shuttle cars, mine cars, another conveyor, or the like.

Referring now to the various elements of the invention in greater detail, each side support 2 in the embodiment shown is made up of an angle having an upright arm I! and another arm l4 which is substantially horizontal and extends inward toward the opposite side, forming thus a projection which consistutes mounting means for the flexible deck. Another element of the side su port, spaced from the angle, is a channel member so disposed that its sides [6 and I8, like the arm l4, project inward toward the opposite side. The angle and channel are securely held together by means of end plates 20 by any suitable means, as for example by welding.

As is best seen in Figs. 3 and '7, each of the projections l4, l6, and I8 is transversely recessed at spaced intervals as shown at 22. Between each pair of adjacent recesses 22, each projection l4, l6 and I8 is resistant to bending forces in a horizontal plane, but an entire support is laterally flexible, or yieldable to such horizontal bending forces, by virtue of its numerous recesses The flexible deck referred to above consists of a plurality of overlapping deck plates 24, the overlap being in the normal direction of movement of coal along the conveyor. Each deck plate 24 is narrower at its ends than at a point between the ends. More specifically, each deck plate tapers toward its ends from a point 26 substantially midway between its ends. The deck plate is secured by a mounting pin 28 to the inward extending projections I4 and I6. The angle and the channel members are secured together in spaced apart relation such that the arm I4 is spaced from the side l6 sufliciently to allow the overlapping deck plates to lie in said space. The pins 28 are preferably made in the form of countersunk rivets which engage the arm M of the angle and the side l5 of the channel. The mounting pin preferably is disposed in a spacer bushing 30 which lies in a suitable opening in the deck plate near the edge thereof, opposite its widest point 26.

The chain conveyor I referred to above is preferably an endless conveyor of the chain-andflight or chain-and-scraper type. To accommodate the chain conveyor, rotatable members 22 and 24 are provided at the extreme ends of the apparatus. The rotatable member 32 may consist of a hollow cylindrical member 20 (Fig. 6) engaging at its ends chain guides 38 which are provided with peripheral flanges 40 to engage the links of chain 42. As is best seen in Fig. 9, the chain guides 30 are preferably provided with square openings or sockets to engage the square ends of stub shafts 44. These shafts are mounted for rotation in antifriction bearings located in bearing housings 46.

Each bearing housing 46 is provided with a rectangular boss 48 (Fig. 9) which is slidable in a rectangular recess 50 in a tail section 52 secured to the end of the last side support. A nut 54 is secured as by welding to the side of the tail section and is threaded to receive an adjusting screw 50, the head of which abuts against a block 50 on the bearing housing 46. A look nut 59 holds the screw it in any position to which it may be adjusted. The tail section 52 is provided at its lower edge with inward-extending ground-engaging flanges 60. sloping chain guide plates 52 may be provided just ahead of the rotatable member 32; see especially Fig. 9.

The upper or work run of the chain conveyor is supported on the arms l4 of the angles, as is best seen in Fig. 4, which shows the chains 42 being supported on the upper faces of the inward-extending arms l4. Flights 84 extend between the two chains 42 and serve to push the coal along the deck. The forward rotatable member 24 consists preferably of a pair of sprockets 60 which engage the chains of the conveyor. The lower or return run of the conveyor is supported in the channels, as is best seen in Fig. 4, wherein the chains are shown as lying between the sides I! and [0.

Drive means for the conveyor are provided, preferably in the form of any suitable means for driving one of the rotatable means, here shown as electric motors 60 connected by suitable gear trains l0, drive shafts I2 and worm gear trains 14. Thus, the sprockets 66 are driven by the electric motors and in turn drive the conveyor chains.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that a portion of the objects of this invention may be accomplished simply with a single pair of side supports 2 having a rotatable member 32 at one end and a driven rotatable member 34 at the other end. Such a conveyor would have the desired lateral flexibility and would thus accomplish some of the objects of this invention. In the preferred form, however, the apparatus is provided with the elevatin or drive head l referred to above, and the rotatable means 34 and an electric motor drive therefor are mounted on the drive head.

As is best seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the drive head consists of side support members 16 and the floor or ramp 18 extending between the side support members. Reinforcing rails 80 corresponding to the side supports 2 may also be provided. The tail end of the ramp I0 is turned downward to underlie the forward end of the foremost deck plate 24. An inward-extending projection 02 corresponds to the inward-extending arm i4 and serves to support the chains of the upper run of the chain conveyor. A hold-down flange or projection I4 is provided and is secured to the member 00 to prevent straightening out of the conveyor chains where the conveyor runs up the ramp 10. A suitable flange 00 below the ramp ll serves to support the lower or return run of the conveyor. At its forward end, the ramp ll curves downward and back upon itself as shown at 00 and engages a transverse rod 00.

As was pointed out above, a laterally flexible conveyor is provided simply by the use of a single pair of side supports 2. However, the apparatus can also be made vertically flexible by joining two or more pairs together as indicated at 4. As is best seen in Figs. 7 and 8, the joint 4 consists of' outward-extending flanges or cars 02 provided at the adjacent ends of end plates 20. Ears 02 are provided with openings 04 which receive bolts 00. The openings 04 are slightly larger than the bolts 86 in order to give a limited amount of flexibility to the joint. Spacer washers 90 are placed between adjacent ears 82 and are preferably provided with rounded corners to allow the ears to rock about the washers. Nuts I00 on the bolts hold the assembly together.

In order to provide a substantial degree of lateral flexibility, the conveyor chain is preferably provided with an occasional link which permits pivoting about a vertical axis. Such a link is shown in Figs. 10 and 11 and one such link will preferably be placed between each pair of adjacent flights 64.

As is shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the chain comprises links l02 and I04, which are connected together by the usual horizontal pivot pins "0. Between two adjacent pairs of widely spaced apart links I04, there is disposed a pair of blocks I00 and H0. These blocks are also secured to links I04 by horizontal pivot pins I00. Blocks I00 and H0 are provided with a tongue and groove joint, the, block H0 having a tongue H2 and the block I00 being provided with the groove 4. A vertical pivot pin I it passes through the blocks [08 and H0 and completes the joint.

Figs. 12 and 13 disclose details of a feature which permits limited endwise movement of each flight of the chain. As is seen in these figures, the chain flight 04 is supported at its ends on tongues H0, which are disposed in the ends of the hollow interior I20 of the flights. Each tongue H0 is mounted on a chain link "4 and is rounded as shown at I24 to provide limited rocking movement of the tongue with respect to the flight. Thus, too, the flight floats" on its end supports for a limited amount of lateral movement. Furthermore, if a flight is bent for any reason, it merely drops out of the chain.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that some of the objects of the invention may be realized by the employment of only one or two of the inward-extending projections instead of all three projections i4, i8 and I0. Thus, the invention could be practiced with a single such projection supporting the flexible deck which might be either l4 or Ii. In the preferred form, however, the invention embodies the three projections shown for the purposes set forth herein.

Operation The operation of the chain-and-flight conveyor will already be well understood by those skilled in the art and need not be detailed here. Lateral flexibility of the conveyor is provided by the recesses 22 and the tapered ends of the deck plates whereby the deck plates and the side supports pivot relative to each other about the mounting pins 28. The degree of flexibility is limited by the width of the recesses 22, the angle of taper of the deck plates, and the distance between recesses. However, even with relatively narrow recesses and a relatively slight taper, the angle of lateral flexibility for apparatus of this type is adequate, inasmuch as it is not contemplated that the'apparatus shall be used to turn sharp corners. Thus, the lateral flexibility makes the apparatus yieldable to bending forces in horizontal planes, permitting the apparatus to take a shape somewhat as illustrated in Fig. 14.

As is evident from that figure, a conveyor made according to the invention can be used to great advantage, especially in longwall mining. The conveyor is located adjacent the mine face right beside a fall of coal C. As the loose coal is loaded onto the conveyor, the conveyor is moved over next to the face, and props P are put in to hold up the roof. It is thus unnecessary to put a row of props between the face and the conveyor, thus eliminating the need to disassemble the entire conveyor and reassemble it next to the face.

Coal carried away by the laterally flexible conveyor may be discharged onto any suitable transporting means, as for example a belt conveyor such as is shown at BC in Fig. 14.

With the structure shown, consisting of the rigid ends (head and tall section) and the flexible, spaced side supports, there is provided a linkage which, when deflected laterally, takes the shape of an S-curve. That shape is advantageous for the intended purpose because it keeps the ends of the conveyor oriented along parallel axes, even though one end be laterally displaced from the other end.

Vertical flexibility, whereby the apparatus is yieldable to bending forces in vertical planes, is provided by the joints I, as can be seen in Fig. 15. Although each side support by itself is relatively rigid to vertical bending forces, two side supports joined together by the Joint 4 may bend somewhat depending p n the width of the space between adjacent ears 92 and upon the distance between joints 4. Again, it is not contemplated that the apparatus will be required to conform to sharp bends but instead it is merely contemplated that some degree of vertical flexibility be provided to accommodate slightly uneven mine bottoms or other floors or ground supports where the apparatus may be used.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that this invention provides a conveyor which has a distinct advantage over the conventional rigid and unyielding apparatus which must be blocked up at various places to make up for irregularities in the ground support, and which cannot be moved closer to the face until the entire fall of coal has been cleared away, and then at considerable inconvenience and expense. A conveyor made according to this invention gives the desired flexibility in a relatively simple device which is easily and inexpensively manufactured.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be modifled and embodied in various other forms without departing'from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a conveyor of the chain-and-flight type, a rigid drive head, a rigid tail section, laterally flexible side supports secured to the drive head and to the tail section and spaced par at their ends thereby, and means to space the side supports between their ends, whereby lateral flexure of the conveyor causes it to form an S-shaped curve.

2. A conveyor according to claim 1, in which the last-named means consist of deck plates each of which is narrower at its ends than at a point along a side edge between the ends.

3. In a conveyor of the chain-and-flight type having a rigid drive head, a rigid tail section, and intermediate laterally flexible sections, in combination, a pair of laterally flexible side supports spaced apart at their ends by the drive head and the tail section, and a plurality of deck members secured to the side supports.

4. A conveyor according to claim 3, in which the side supports consist of angle and channel members having spaced slots in their horizontal arms.

5. A conveyor according to claim 4, in which the deck members consist of tapered plates pivotally secured at their widest parts to the side supports.

6. A conveyor according to claim 3, in which the deck members consist of tapered plates pivotally secured at the widest parts to the side sup- P rts.

'7. In a conveyor of the chain-and-scraper type having a discharge end, a tail section, and intermediate laterally flexible sections, in combinatlon, a pair of opposed angle side supports, the horizontal arms of which are slotted at intervals to provide lateral flexibility of the conveyor, a plurality of tapered deck plates extending between said side supports in overlappin relation, and means to secure the deck plates to one arm of each oi the said side supports.

8. A conveyor according to claim "I, in which the last-named means consists of a pin passing through each side of each deck plate at its widest point and securing the plate to an angle arm of said support.

9. In a conveyor of the chain-and-scraper type having a discharge end, a tail section, and intermediate laterally flexible sections, in combination, side supports, each of which consists of an angle and a channel one above the other with the channel sides and an angle arm directed toward the opposite side of the conveyor, means to space the angle above the channel, the channel sides and the horizontal angle arm being slotted at intervals to provide lateral flexibility; and a plurality of deck plates extending from side to side and having their edges lyin in the defined space and secured to adjacent angle and channel members.

10. A conveyor according to claim 9, in which the deck plates are tapered toward each end from a point of maximum width near the middle, and overlap in the direction of movement of material.

JOSEPH F. Joy.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date 

